Hyderabad: 12 private testing facilities set to join Covid action

Hyderabad: Twelve private testing facilities including hospitals, labs and diagnostic centres will be jumping into action to conduct Covid-19 tests in Telangana in wake of High Court order to permit tests in private facilities also.

ICMR has given nod for 12 private testing facilities to go ahead with these sample tests in Telangana along with other States. However, the Telangana government did not approve ICMR nod stating that people are likely to be fleeced in the name of tests unnecessarily. Welcoming the High Court decision, a co-owner of a private testing facility felt that the government-run Gandhi Hospital and other labs will be spared from the testing burden from now. He said that Supreme Court had put a cap of Rs 4,500 or below on Covid sample testing and there would be no chance for fleecing people in the name of tests.

He pointed out that many people from the city have expressed worries to go to some government centres due to some fear or other even though they had symptoms like fever, cold etc. However, with private labs also joining action they would at least approach these centres and get the tests done, the co-owner said.

Also, the Court's decision to allow ICMR approved hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients will also give an opportunity to people who can afford to get treatment in such hospitals.

As of now, Gandhi is the designated Covid treatment facility. However, the State government recently instructed private hospitals with ICU and ventilator facilities to create Covid zones to treat infected patients, if such a situation may arise in the near future.